<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE html
     PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
     "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
  <title>Conditionals (Expressing "if") - Tae Kim's Japanese grammar guide</title>
  <meta name="Author" content="Tae Kim" />
  <meta name="Description" content="A guide to Japanese grammar." />
  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />

  <style type="text/css">
     @import url('style.css');
  </style>

    <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="print.css" media="print" />

</head>

<body>

<h1>Conditionals</h1>

<table align="right" cellpadding="3">
<tr align="center">
	<td>
		<a href="surunaru.html">← Previous (Using に<span title="なる - to become" class="popup">なる</span> + に<span title="する - to do" class="popup">する</span>)</a> |
	</td>
	<td>
		<a href="index.html#contents">Table of Contents</a>
	</td>
	<td>
		| <a href="haveto.html">Next (Expressing "have to") →</a>
	</td>
</tr>
</table>

<br /><br /><br />

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr><td>
<div class="outline">
<!-- outline menu -->
<center><span class="summary">Outline</span></center>
<ol>
<li><a href="#part1">How to say "if" in Japanese</a></li>
<li><a href="#part2">Expressing natural consequence using 「と」</a></li>
<li><a href="#part3">Contextual conditionals using 「なら（ば）」</a></li>
<li><a href="#part4">General conditionals using 「ば」</a></li>
<li><a href="#part5">Past conditional using 「たら（ば）」</a></li>
<li><a href="#part6">How does 「<span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span>」 fit into all of this?</a></li>
</ol>
</div>
</td></tr>
</table>


<h2 id="part1">How to say "if" in Japanese</h2>
This whole section is dedicated to learning how to say "if" in Japanese.  Oh, if only it was as simple as English.  In Japanese, there's four (count
them, four) ways to say "if"!  Thankfully, the conjugations are sparse and easy especially since you don't have to deal with tenses.

<h2 id="part2">Expressing natural consequence using 「と」</h2>
We'll first cover the simplest type of "if" which is the natural consequence conditional.  This means that if [X] happens, [Y] will
happen as a natural consequence.  No question about it.  If I drop a ball, it will fall to the ground.  If I turn off the lights at night, it will get dark.  We can express
this type of condition in the following format.

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">Rules for using the conditional 「と」</span>
<ol>
<li>Attach 「と」 to the condition followed by the result that would occur should the condition be satisfied
<br /><b>= [Condition] + と + [Result]</b></li>
<li>State of being must be made explicit
<br /><b>= [State of Being] + <u>だ</u>と + [Result]</b></li>
</ol>
</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="ボール - ball" class="popup">ボール</span>を<span title="おとす - to drop" class="popup">落す</span><em>と</em><span title="おちる - to fall" class="popup">落ちる</span>。
<br />- If you drop the ball, it will fall.
</p>

<p>
（２）　<span title="でんき - electricy, (electric) light" class="popup">電気</span>を<span title="けす - to erase" class="popup">消す</span><em>と</em><span title="くらい - dark" class="popup">暗く</span><span title="なる - to become" class="popup">なる</span>。
<br />- If you turn off the lights, it will get dark.
</p>

<p>These examples are designed to show how 「と」 is used to express natural consequence.  However, even if the statement isn't a natural
consequence in itself, the 「と」 will tell the audience that it is nevertheless expected to be a natural consequence.
</p>

<p>（１）　<span title="がっこう - school" class="popup">学校</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行かない</span><em>と</em><span title="ともだち - friend" class="popup">友達</span>と<span title="あう - to meet" class="popup">会えない</span>よ。
<br />- If you don't go to school, you can't meet your friends.
</p>

<p>
（２）　<span title="たくさん - to lot" class="popup">たくさん</span><span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べる</span><em>と</em><span title="ふとる - to become fatter" class="popup">太る</span>よ。
<br />- If you eat a lot, you will get fat, for sure.
</p>

<p>
（３）　<span title="せんせい - teacher" class="popup">先生</span><em>だと</em>、<span title="きっと - for sure" class="popup">きっと</span><span title="としうえ - older" class="popup">年上</span>なんじゃないですか？
<br />- If he's a teacher, he must be older for sure, right?
</p>

<p>The "for sure" part is the implied meaning supplied by the 「と」.  The speaker is saying that the following condition will occur in that situation, no matter what. As you can see from the last example,  if the condition is a state-of-being, it must be expressed so explicitly using 「だ」.  This applies to all non-conjugated nouns and na-adjectives as I'm sure you're used to by now.  This will also help prevent confusion with other types of 「と」.
</p>


<h2 id="part3">Contextual conditionals using 「なら（ば）」</h2>
Another relatively easy to understand type of "if" is the contextual conditional.  You can use this particle to express what will happen given a certain context.
For example, if you wanted to say, "Well, if everybody's going, I'm going too" you would use the 「なら」 conditional because you are saying that you will go
in the context of everybody else going. The contextual conditional always requires a context in which the conditional occurs. For instance, you would use it
for saying things like, "If <i>that's</i> what you are talking about..." or "If <i>that's</i> the case, then..."

<p>
In a sense, you are explaining what would occur if you assume a certain condition is satisfied. In other words, you are saying "if given a certain context, here is
what will happen." You will see this reflected in the English translations as the phrase "if given" in the examples.
</p>

<p>The 「なら」 is attached to the context in which the conditional occurs. The format is the same as the 「と」 conditional, however, you <u>must not</u>
attach the declarative 「だ」.</p>

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">Rules for using the contextual conditional 「なら」</span>
<ol>
<li>Attach 「なら」 to the context in which the conditional would occur
<br /><b>= [Assumed Context] + なら + [Result]</b></li>
<li>You <u>must not</u> attach the declarative 「だ」.</li>
</ol>
</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="みんな - everybody" class="popup">みんな</span>が<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span><em>なら</em><span title="わたし - me, myself, I" class="popup">私</span>も<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span>。
<br />- If given that everybody is going, then I'll go too.
</p>

<p>
（２）　アリス<span title="さん - polite name suffix" class="popup">さん</span>が<span title="いう - to say" class="popup">言う</span><em>なら</em><span title="もんだい - problem" class="popup">問題</span><span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ない</span>よ。
<br />- If given that Alice-san says so, there's no problem.
</p>

<h3>Example Dialogue</h3>
<p>
アリス）　<span title="としょかん - library" class="popup">図書館</span>は<span title="どこ - where" class="popup">どこ</span>ですか。
<br />- Where is the library?
</p>
<p>
ボブ）　<span title="としょかん - library" class="popup">図書館</span><em>なら</em>、<span title="あそこ - over there" class="popup">あそこ</span>です。<br />- If given that you're talking about the library, then it's over there.
</p>

<p>The following is incorrect.
<br />（誤）　<span title="としょかん - library" class="popup">図書館</span><em><strike>だ</strike></em>なら<span title="あそこ - over there" class="popup">あそこ</span>です。
</p>

<p>You can also decide to use 「なら<em>ば</em>」 instead of just 「なら」. This means exactly the same thing except that it has a more formal nuance.
</p>

<h2 id="part4">General conditionals using 「ば」</h2>
The next type of conditional just expresses a regular "if" condition without any assumptions or embedded meanings.  However, it cannot be used with
nouns and na-adjectives.  Conjugation-wise, the 「ば」 conditional is fairly easy.
For verbs, like the potential form, you change the last / u / vowel sound to an / e / vowel sound but instead of attaching 「る」, you attach 「ば」.  This rule
also applies to ru-verbs.  For i-adjectives and negatives ending in 「ない」, you take off the last 「い」 and add 「ければ」.

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">Conjugation Rules for 「ば」</span>
<ol>
<li>For verbs, just like the <a href="potential.html#part2"><i>potential form</i></a>,
change the last / u / vowel sound to the equivalent / e / vowel sound and attach 「ば」
<br />（例） <span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べ<em>る</em></span>　→　<span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べ<em>れ</em></span> →  <span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べれ<em>ば</em></span>
<br />（例） <span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待<em>つ</em></span>　→　<span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待<em>て</em></span> →  <span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待て<em>ば</em></span></li>
<li>For i-adjectives or negatives ending in 「ない」, drop the last 「い」 and attach 「ければ」.
<br />（例） <span title="おかしい - funny" class="popup">おかし<em><strike>い</strike></em></span>　→　<span title="おかしい - funny" class="popup">おかし<em>ければ</em></span>
<br />（例） <span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">な<em><strike>い</strike></em></span>　→　<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">な<em>ければ</em></span></li>
</ol>
</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="ともだち - friend" class="popup">友達</span>に<span title="あう - to meet" class="popup">会えれ<em>ば</em></span>、<span title="かいもの - shopping" class="popup">買い物</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行きます</span>。
<br />- If I can meet with my friend, we will go shopping.
</p>

<p>
（２）　<span title="おかね - money" class="popup">お金</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あれ<em>ば</em></span><span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span>ね。
<br />- If I had money, it would be good, huh?
</p>

<p>
（３）　<span title="たのしい - fun" class="popup">楽し<em>ければ</em></span>、<span title="わたし - me, myself, I" class="popup">私</span>も<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span>。
<br />- If it's fun, I'll go too.
</p>

<p>
（４）　<span title="たのしい - fun" class="popup">楽しくな<em>ければ</em></span>、<span title="わたし - me, myself, I" class="popup">私</span>も<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行かない</span>。
<br />- If it's not fun, I'll also not go.
</p>

<p>
（５）　<span title="たべる - to eat" class="popup">食べな<em>ければ</em></span><span title="びょうき - disease, sickness" class="popup">病気</span>に<span title="なる - to become" class="popup">なる</span>よ。
<br />- If you don't eat, you will become sick.
</p>

<h2 id="part5">Past conditional using 「たら（ば）」</h2>
I call this next conditional the past conditional because it is produced by taking the past tense and just adding 「ら」.  It is commonly called the
「たら」 conditional because all past-tense ends with 「た」 and so it always becomes 「たら」.  Like the 「ば」 conditional, it is also a general conditional except it can
also be used with nouns and na-adjectives.

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">Conjugation Rule for 「たら（ば）」</span>
<ol>
<li>First change the noun, adjective, or verb to its past tense and attach 「ら」
<br />（例） <span title="じどう - automatic" class="popup">自動</span>　→　<span title="じどう - automatic" class="popup">自動</span><em>だった</em> →  <span title="じどう - automatic" class="popup">自動</span>だった<em>ら</em>
<br />（例） <span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待<em>つ</em></span>　→　<span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待<em>った</em></span> →  <span title="まつ - to wait" class="popup">待った<em>ら</em></span>
<br />（例） <span title="いそがしい - busy" class="popup">忙し<em>い</em></span>　→　<span title="いそがしい - busy" class="popup">忙し<em>かった</em></span> →  <span title="いそがしい - busy" class="popup">忙しかった<em>ら</em></span></li>
</ol>
</div>


<h3>Examples</h3>
<p>
（１）　<span title="ひま - free, leisure" class="popup">暇</span>だっ<em>たら</em>、<span title="あそぶ - to play" class="popup">遊び</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行く</span>よ。
<br />- If I am free, I will go play.
</p>
<p>
（２）　<span title="がくせい - student" class="popup">学生</span>だっ<em>たら</em>、<span title="がくせい - student" class="popup">学生</span><span title="わりびき - discount" class="popup">割引</span>で<span title="かう - to buy" class="popup">買えます</span>。
<br />- If you're a student, you can buy with a student discount.
</p>

<p>For i-adjectives and verbs, it is very difficult to differentiate between the two types of conditionals,
and you can make life easier for yourself by considering them to be the same. However, if you must insist,
I searched around the web for an explanation of the difference that I can agree with.
Here is the <a href="http://homepage3.nifty.com/i-yasu/Lesson8.htm">original text</a>.  Basically, the 「たら」 conditional focuses on what happens after the condition.
This is another reason why I call this the past conditional because the condition is "in the past" (not literally) and we're interested in the result not the condition.  The
「ば」 conditional, on the other hand, focuses on the conditional part.
</p>

<p>Let's compare the difference in nuance.
<br />（A）　<span title="ともだち - friend" class="popup">友達</span>に<span title="あう - to meet" class="popup">会えれ<em>ば</em></span>、<span title="かいもの - shopping" class="popup">買い物</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行きます</span>。- We will go shopping, <b>if</b> I can meet with my friend.
<br />（B）　<span title="ともだち - friend" class="popup">友達</span>に<span title="あう - to meet" class="popup">会え<em>たら</em></span>、<span title="かいもの - shopping" class="popup">買い物</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行きます</span>。- If I can meet with my friend, <b>we will go shopping</b>.
</p>

<p>
（A）　<span title="おかね - money" class="popup">お金</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あれ<em>ば</em></span><span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span>ね。- It would be good, <b>if</b> I had money, huh?
<br />（B）　<span title="おかね - money" class="popup">お金</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">あっ<em>たら</em></span><span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span>ね。- If I had money, <b>it would be good, huh</b>?
</p>

<p>Going by the context, the 「～たら」 form sounds more natural for both examples because it doesn't seem like we're really focusing on the condition itself.
We're probably more interested in what's going to happen once we meet the friend or how nice it would be if we had money.
</p>

<p>The past conditional is the only type of conditional where the result can be in the past.  It may seem strange to have an "if" when the result has
already taken place.  Indeed, in this usage, there really is no "if", it's just a way of expressing surprise at the result of the condition.  This has little to
do with conditionals but it is explained here because the grammatical structure is the same.
</p>

<p>（１）　<span title="いえ - house" class="popup">家</span>に<span title="かえる - to go home" class="popup">帰ったら</span>、<span title="だれも - nobody" class="popup">誰も</span><span title="いる - to exist (animate)" class="popup">いなかった</span>。
<br />- When I went home, there was no one there. (unexpected result)
</p>

<p>
（２）　<span title="アメリカ - America" class="popup">アメリカ</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行ったら</span>、<span title="たくさん - to lot" class="popup">たくさん</span><span title="ふとる - to become fatter" class="popup">太りました</span>。
<br />- As a result of going to America, I got really fat. (unexpected result)
</p>

<p>
You can also use 「たら<em>ば</em>」 instead of 「たら」.  Similar to 「ならば」, this means exactly the same thing except that it has a more formal nuance.
</p>

<h2 id="part6">How does 「<span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span>」 fit into all of this?</h2>
Some of you may be aware of the word 「<span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span>」 which means "if" and may be wondering how it fits into all of this. Well, if you want to say a conditional, you need to
use one of the conditionals discussed above. 「<span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span>」 is really a supplement to add a sense of uncertainty on whether the condition is true.
For instance, you might use it when you want to make an invitation and you don't want to presume like the following example.
<p>（１）　<em><span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span></em><span title="いい - good" class="popup">よかった</span>ら、<span title="えいが - movie" class="popup">映画</span>を<span title="みる - to watch" class="popup">観</span>に<span title="いく - to go" class="popup">行きます</span>か？
<br />- If <em>by any chance</em> it's ok with you, go to watch movie?
</p>

<p>（２）　<em><span title="もし - if by any chance" class="popup">もし</span></em><span title="じかん - time" class="popup">時間</span>が<span title="ある - to exist (inanimate)" class="popup">ない</span>なら、<span title="あした - tomorrow" class="popup">明日</span>でも<span title="いい - good" class="popup">いい</span>よ。
<br />- If given that there's no time, tomorrow is fine as well. (Not certain whether there is no time)
</p>

<div class="botmenu">
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="15">
  <tr>
    <td><a href="surunaru.html">← Previous (Using に<span title="なる - to become" class="popup">なる</span> + に<span title="する - to do" class="popup">する</span>)</a></td>
    <td><a href="index.html#contents">Table of Contents</a></td>
    <td><a href="haveto.html">Next (Expressing "have to") →</a></td>
  </tr>
</table>
</div>

<br />
<div class="footer">
<!-- Creative Commons License -->
<a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" border="0" src="http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.gif" /></a><br />
This work is licensed under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/">Creative Commons License</a>.
<!-- /Creative Commons License -->


<!--

<rdf:RDF xmlns="http://web.resource.org/cc/"
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#">
<Work rdf:about="">
   <dc:type rdf:resource="http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text" />
   <license rdf:resource="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/" />
</Work>

<License rdf:about="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/">
   <permits rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/Reproduction" />
   <permits rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/Distribution" />
   <requires rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/Notice" />
   <requires rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/Attribution" />
   <prohibits rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/CommercialUse" />
   <permits rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/DerivativeWorks" />
   <requires rdf:resource="http://web.resource.org/cc/ShareAlike" />
</License>

</rdf:RDF>

-->
<p class="copyright">Copyright &copy; 2003-2007 Tae Kim (taekim.japanese AT gmail.com)</p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.guidetojapanese.org/forum/viewforum.php?id=18">Report a correction or suggestion for this page</a>
</p>
</div>

<div class="small" style="text-align:right;"><pre>This page has last been revised on 2006/9/14</pre></div>

</body>
</html>